Fri, 30 Jun 2006
Japanese for Travellers
Katie Kitamura, Japanese for Travellers,
Hamish Hamilton/Penguin
You might think the title indicates a Japanese language
tutorial of the sort that introduces you to a few basic
words that get you around and fed. Konnichiwa! ... that sort
of thing.
In fact it's a view of changes in Japanese culture that have
resulted first from WWII and then the bursting of the
economic bubble in the recent past. The most recent past has
seen more prosperous times but that is not talked about. So,
this is far from a lofty Heiean view of rural tranquility
and poetic moments. Ah, reality, you say, that's what it's
about, and it is about a slice of reality as seen by a
Japanese American who has family ties in Japan and visits
reasonably frequently.
The truth, of course, isn't just social disconnectedness
caused by the end of jobs-for-life or lessened wealth, and
which has caused disturbing behaviour in different sections
of society. It isn't just saran gas in the subway, the
disappeared elderly, or deserted Dutch-themed folies. It is
all the other things as well: the rich cultural and artistic
heritage, the everyday politeness (and phoey to those that
say manners are just fake -- they are a mark of repect for
fellow humans), and the collision of beauty and ugliness that
sums up somewhere like Tokyo.
If you want to know about Japan, this is one part of the story
and is useful because we in the West don't know that much about
these aspects. You can cover the other part by reading something
like Lost Japan by Alex Kerr.
[]
permanent link
| 
pre Dec 04 reviews are here